Gospel is hidden from wise but revealed to the simple: (chap.2):
Paul gives several facts with regard to the Cross of Christ.
The message of the Cross is not of this world: (2:1-6):
Paul came to Corinth and stayed for 1 ½ year working as a tent-maker along with Aquila and Priscilla who were also of the same profession. Paul was a learned man. He could easily conduct debates and try to win them with his arguments. But here he comes as a simple man with one and only emphasis to proclaim the testimony of God. He puts the Cross of Christ as the main cutting edge although it appears as foolishness to the worldly intelligentsia.
Paul knew that Jews demand for sign and Greeks for wisdom, he did not use his eloquence. He came here not as a salesman but as an ambassador. This does not mean he left all his knowledge and behaving as an insane, but he puts the crucified Christ as a singular focus in his preaching. His preaching may not be arousing audience interest, but he preaches with the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives him the right words at the right time. Some Ex:
- When he was speaking to the people at Athens, he spoke from an un-known god to the living, true and eternal God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
- When he was speaking before King Agrippa, although he was a prisoner, he spoke with zealous for the Lord (Acts 26:28).
He knew that whenever he speaks, there would be the demonstration of the power of God. There would be either repentance or retaliation from the people. Ex: The great man of God Billy Graham’s message is very simple to listen, but at the end of his message, there would be so much of turbulence by the Holy Spirit, that thousands and thousands would come forward accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.
Salvation was purchased by God the Son, but it was planned by God the Father. Those who talk about “the simple Gospel” are both right and wrong. Yes, the message of the Gospel is simple enough for an illiterate pagan to understand, believe, and be saved. But it is also so profound that the most brilliant theologian cannot fathom its depths.
It was given before the foundations of this world: (2:7-8):
God’s wisdom i.e. the universal salvation was planned before the foundation of this world. It is beyond human mind’s comprehension how God could foresee all that happenings of the world. We can put this secret plan into 5-categories:
- God’s wisdom was amazing: His universal plan of salvation, His wisdom for this world is beyond our understanding. The wisest of the wise cannot plan or think of.
- God’s wisdom was veiled: It was kept as a secret that even angels long to look into it. But this wisdom or truth was revealed through the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- God planned it entirely: It is difficult to understand the Divine election and God’s predestination for this mankind. Instead of going into the rudimentary arguments, one must discharge the responsibilities which God has entrusted to all us.
- God’s wisdom brings glory to God: The wisdom of God and the greatest plan of Eternal Salvation brought glory to God. God once and for all atoned His blood for the saving of the entire humanity. This is the greatest glory one can give to God. We believers also share God’s glory because we have the inheritance with Christ (Rom.8:16).
- God’s wisdom was veiled to the un-believers: The prince of this world or the god of this world has blinded the eyes of people that they cannot see the glory of God. Yes people have rejected or ignored God’s free gift of salvation. Even now there are many people in remote pockets of this world do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said: “Father forgive them, that they do not know what they are doing.” Even Satan did not know the far reaching effects of the Cross of Calvary. Satan thought that Golgotha is the of end of Jesus’ ministry. Satanic forces and Satan did not understand God’s greatest eternal plan! They could understand from the Old Testament Scriptures that the Son of God would be born and die (Isa.53:3; Zech. 12:10-11), but they could not grasp the full significance of the cross because these truths were hidden by God. In fact, it is now, through the church, that these truths are being revealed to the principalities and powers (Eph.3:10).Satan did not fully understand the vast results of Christ’s death and resurrection. Had he known, they would not have engineered the death of Christ. (Of course, all of this was part of God’s eternal plan. It was God who was in control, not Satan).